High decibel campaign on with 240 star speakers

CPI, Congress, AIADMK, DMK, Naam Tamilar Katchi, Makkal Desiya Katchi, Indian Union Muslim League and Desiya Makkal Sakthi Katchi have submitted the list of star campaigners. While the major political parties have obtained permission for 40-star campaigners, minor parties have got 20-star campaigners each.

The AIADMK had deputed the entire state Cabinet, including Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and his Deputy O Panneerselvam as star campaigners. Interestingly, the name of DMK leader MK Stalin’s son Udayanidhi, who had an elevation in the party, is in the list of DMK star campaigners, sources said.

Meanwhile, Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo told reporters that all steps were taken to ensure a free and fair poll for Vellore Lok Sabha. “Security has been beefed up in the district and all the 1,553 polling booths will be under surveillance, of this 850 will be covered through web cameras,” the CEO said.

Already, 10 companies of paramilitary force are deputed in the poll-bound constituency and 10 more companies of CRPF will soon be positioned in Vellore, he said. Revision of voters’ roll has already been completed and the supplementary list will soon be released, Sahoo said.

Commenting about the implementation of model code of conduct, the CEO said till now Rs 2.38 crore has been seized by the surveillance teams and three kilos of gold carried without proper documents were also seized.

It may be noted that the EC has deployed five observers for the parliamentary poll which was earlier rescinded due to large scale seizure of cash aimed to induce voters. Besides the general observer and a police observer, the EC has deputed three expenditure observers for Vellore which is an all-time high for a Lok Sabha seat in the state. Counting of votes will be on August 9.